JP4893343B2 - Image forming system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming system for forming a booklet by forming an image on a sheet, binding the sheet on which the image is formed, by gluing.

  Conventionally, as an image forming system for producing a booklet, for example, a bookbinding apparatus using a gluing method as in Patent Document 1 is known. In this bookbinding apparatus, a booklet is produced by gluing a bundle of sheets composed of a plurality of sheets of the same size as the bookbinding size.

As another method, for example, a saddle stitching type bookbinding apparatus as in Patent Document 2 is known. In this bookbinding apparatus, an image is formed on a sheet having a size twice as large as the bookbinding size, the sheets are overlapped, the center portion is bound, and the sheet is folded in two along the bound center portion.
JP 2002-283767 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-22134

  When a booklet is produced by bookbinding, since the amount of printing is enormous, high productivity and cost reduction are desired. However, productivity and cost are not necessarily compatible, and are in a conflicting relationship. That is, since the cost of the paper generally reflects the cost of the paper manufacturing process such as cutting, the cost per unit area of printing is lower when a large size paper is used. For example, one A3 sheet and two A4 sheets have the same print area, but one A3 sheet and two A4 sheets use a single A3 sheet. The cost is lower.

  On the other hand, in terms of productivity, it is more productive to use paper having the same size as the bookbinding size. For example, when binding with A3 paper, a half-folding process is required, and the time of the half-folding process requires more time than image formation. For this reason, using two sheets of A4 paper that does not require half-folding processing shortens the overall processing time and uses higher productivity than using one sheet of A3 paper that requires half-folding processing. Obtainable.

  In Patent Document 1, since a paper having the same size as the bookbinding size is used, it is advantageous for productivity but disadvantageous in terms of cost. On the other hand, in Patent Document 2, since paper having a size twice the bookbinding size is used, it is advantageous in terms of cost but disadvantageous in productivity. For this reason, the user has to select and purchase one system from the viewpoint of either productivity or cost, and there is no system that can use both according to the user's desire.

  Therefore, the present invention provides an image forming system that performs image formation to bookbinding in one system, and can satisfy both user needs for productivity and low cost. For the purpose.

The object is achieved by the following invention.
1.
An image forming apparatus having image forming means for forming images on both sides of the paper, a half-folding apparatus having half-folding means for half-folding the paper on which the image is formed, a paper on which a plurality of images are formed, and / or Alternatively, in an image forming system having a bookbinding apparatus that glues a folded sheet after an image is formed and performs bookbinding processing,
Control means for executing a first mode and a second mode for bookbinding ;
A size designating unit for performing the bookbinding process by designating a paper size ;
In the first mode, the control unit forms an image only on a sheet having the same size as the bookbinding size, and performs the folding process by the folding unit on the same size sheet on which the image is formed. In the second mode, an image is formed on a sheet having a size twice as large as the bookbinding size, and the double-sized sheet on which the image has been formed is folded in the middle. After performing the folding process by the means, the bookbinding means glues the booklet ,
The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit executes the first mode or the second mode corresponding to a paper size set by the size specifying unit .
2.
It has an operation unit that selects and sets productivity-oriented or cost-oriented,
The control means executes the first mode when the productivity emphasis is set in the operation unit, and executes the second mode when the cost emphasis is set. The image forming system according to 1 above.
3 .
When the paper size is set by the size specifying unit, the control unit gives priority to the set paper size, prohibits the productivity-oriented setting and the cost-oriented setting, and sets the set paper. 3. The image forming system according to 2 , wherein the first mode or the second mode corresponding to the size of the image is executed.
4 .
A first conveyance path that bypasses the middle folding means; and a second conveyance path that passes through the middle folding means; the first mode is switched to the first conveyance path, and the second mode is the first conveyance path. the image forming system according to any one of the 1-3, characterized in that it comprises a conveying path switching member for switching the second transport path.
5 .
The image forming system according to any one of the 1-4, characterized in that it comprises an image processing control means for executing a page editing in a page editing and the second mode in the first mode.
6 .
If the emphasis on productivity is selected when there is insufficient or no paper of the same size as the bookbinding size and there is paper having a size twice the bookbinding size, the control means executes the second mode. 6. The image forming system according to any one of 2 to 5 , wherein:
7 .
When there is a sheet of the same size as the bookbinding size and there is insufficient or no paper having a size twice the bookbinding size, the control unit executes the first mode. The image forming system according to any one of the above items 2 to 6 , wherein
8 .
When the cost emphasis is selected and a margin of two or more pages is formed at the end of the booklet, the control unit forms an image on a paper having the same size as the bookbinding size as the last paper for forming the booklet. The image forming system according to any one of 2 to 7 , wherein the bookbinding unit performs the bookbinding process without performing the folding process.
9 .
The image forming system according to any one of 1 to 8 , wherein the bookbinding unit performs a case binding process in which a plurality of sheets are wrapped with a cover sheet.

  According to the present invention, an image forming system capable of satisfying both a user need for high productivity and a user need for low cost is realized.

The present invention will be described below with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.
<Image forming system>
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The bookbinding system includes an image forming apparatus 100 having an image forming unit that forms images on both sides of a sheet, a folding device 200 having a folding unit that performs folding processing on a sheet on which an image is formed, and a plurality of images. The bookbinding apparatus 300 includes a bookbinding unit that performs bookbinding processing by gluing sheets that have been folded in half after the sheets and / or images are formed.

  The image forming apparatus 100 forms an image on the paper P, and the center folding apparatus 200 conveys the sheet P sent from the image forming apparatus 100 to the bookbinding apparatus 300 without processing the sheet P, or the sheet P is folded in half. Treat and transport to bookbinding apparatus 300.

In the bookbinding apparatus 300, the sheets P sent from the half-folding apparatus 200 are bound and bound, or the sheet P is attached with KI serving as a front cover and K2 serving as a back cover added to the bookbinding apparatus 300. To do. Further, the bookbinding apparatus 300 discharges the paper without performing the bookbinding process.
<Image forming apparatus>
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the image forming apparatus that constitutes the image forming system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  The image forming apparatus 100 is called a tandem color image forming apparatus, and includes an image forming unit A, an image reading unit 130, a paper feeding device B, and a refeeding unit 26. The image forming unit includes a plurality of sets of image forming units 110Y, 110M, 110C, and 110K, a belt-like intermediate transfer member 170, a secondary transfer unit 105A, a fixing device 124, and a paper discharge roller 125.

  An image reading unit 130 is installed on the upper part of the image forming apparatus 100. The document placed on the document table is scanned and exposed by the scanning optical system 131 of the image reading unit 130 and read by the line image sensor 132. The analog signal photoelectrically converted by the line image sensor 132 is output to the exposure unit 103 after analog processing, A / D conversion, shading correction, image compression processing, and the like in the image processing unit.

  An image forming unit 110Y that forms a yellow (Y) image, an image forming unit 110M that forms a magenta (M) image, an image forming unit 110C that forms a cyan (C) image, and a black (K) color The image forming unit 110K that forms the image includes a photosensitive drum 101, a charging unit 102, an exposure unit 103, a developing unit 104, a primary transfer unit 105, and a cleaning unit 106, respectively.

  The intermediate transfer member 170 is wound around a plurality of rollers 171 to 174 and is rotatably supported. A secondary transfer unit 105A is provided at the secondary transfer position so as to face the intermediate transfer member 170.

  The respective color images formed by the image forming units 110Y, 110M, 110C, and 110K are sequentially transferred by the primary transfer unit 105 onto the rotating intermediate transfer body 170 to form a combined color image.

  The photosensitive drum 101, the charging unit 102, the exposure unit 103, the developing unit 104, the primary transfer unit 105, and the cleaning unit 106 are provided in each of the image forming units 110Y, 110M, 110C, and 110K. Only these various means are indicated by reference numerals.

  The sheet feeding device B includes a sheet feeding tray 120, a sheet feeding unit (first sheet feeding unit) 121, sheet feeding rollers 122A, 122B, 122C, 122D, and a registration roller (second sheet feeding unit) 123.

  The paper P accommodated in the paper feed tray 120 in the paper feed device B is fed by a paper feed means (first paper feed unit) 121, and feed rollers 122A, 122B, 122C, 122D, a registration roller (second roller). The sheet is conveyed to the secondary transfer unit 105A through the sheet feeding unit 123 and the like, and the color image is secondarily transferred onto the sheet P.

  Note that the three-stage sheet feeding trays 120 arranged vertically in the vertical direction below the image forming apparatus 100 have the same configuration, and the three sheet feeding units 121 also have the same structure.

  In the fixing device 124, the color toner image on the paper P is fixed by applying heat and pressure, and is discharged out of the device by the paper discharge roller 125.

  Reference numeral 26 denotes a re-feeding unit that reverses the paper P and feeds it again to the transfer unit in double-sided image formation.

  On the other hand, after the color image is transferred to the paper P by the secondary transfer unit 105A, the residual toner is removed by the cleaning unit 106A from the intermediate transfer body 170 that has separated the curvature of the paper P.

  The intermediate transfer member 170 is stretched around a plurality of rollers 171 to 174 and circulates and moves as indicated by arrows.

FIG. 2 shows an example of color image formation using the intermediate transfer member 170. However, a toner image is formed on the photosensitive member without using the intermediate transfer member, and the toner image is directly transferred from the photosensitive member to the sheet. Of course, the image forming apparatus to be formed can also be used in the present invention.
<Folding device>
FIG. 3 is a front sectional view of the folding device 200.

  As the half-folding device, one disclosed in JP 2000-18850 A can be used, but other folding devices can also be used. The structure of the half-folding apparatus 200 is as follows.

  The center folding apparatus 200 includes two transport paths H201 and H202. When the center folding process is not performed, the center folding apparatus 200 transports the transport path H201, and when performing the center folding process, transports the transport path H202. The conveyance paths H201 and H202 are switched by a conveyance path switching member G.

  In the conveyance without performing the middle folding, the paper P discharged from the image forming apparatus 100 is conveyed by the carry-in roller 201, conveyed through the conveyance path H201, which is a linear conveyance path, and discharged to the bookbinding apparatus 300 by the discharge roller 203. .

  In the conveyance in which the folding process is performed, the sheet P conveyed by the carry-in roller 201 is conveyed to the conveyance path H202, conveyed by the conveyance roller 202 to the folding unit 210, and subjected to the folding process, so that the sheet P is centered in the conveyance direction. After performing the middle folding process as a fold, the sheet is conveyed by the conveying roller 202 and the paper discharge roller 203 and discharged to the bookbinding apparatus 300.

  The sheet P conveyed on the conveyance path H202 is supported by the guide plates 212 to 214 and the conveyance belt unit 211 with the upper surface thereof facing upward by about 45 °.

  The conveyance belt unit 211 carries the paper P into the guide plates 212 to 214.

  The center folding means 210 includes belt units 218 and 219 each composed of a pair of rollers and a belt, and a protruding plate 216.

  The protruding plate 216 is driven by a motor (not shown), guided by the guide rod 217, and press-fitted between the belt units 218 and 219.

  The belt units 218 and 219 are supported by support members 223 and 224 urged by springs 220 and 221, respectively, and are in pressure contact with each other with a predetermined pressure by the urges of the springs 220 and 221.

  Accordingly, the belts 218 and 219 make a sharp crease in the paper P press-fitted between them.

  Reference numeral 225 denotes a stopper which is displaced according to the size of the paper P.

  The paper P carried in by the belt unit 211 is supported by the stopper 225 at a position where the center line coincides with the tip of the protruding plate 216.

  Next, the protruding plate 216 protrudes, the paper P is press-fitted between the belt units 218 and 219 with the center line at the head, and the paper P is folded in half.

After the middle folding, the ejection plate 216 moves backward and returns to the standby position, but the paper P is transported by the belt units 218 and 219, further transported by the transport roller 202 and the paper discharge roller 203, and discharged to the bookbinding apparatus 300. .
<Bookbinding device>
FIG. 4 is a front sectional view of the bookbinding apparatus, FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a bookbinding process of the bookbinding apparatus, FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a booklet creating process, and FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a sheet and cover bonding process.

  As the bookbinding apparatus, one described in JP-A-2002-283767 is used, but other bookbinding apparatuses can also be used.

  The bookbinding apparatus 300 includes paper discharge units 301, 302, and 303, a bookbinding processing unit 304, a cover storage unit 305, a back cover storage unit 306, and glue application heads 307 and 308.

  The paper discharge unit 301 is a paper discharge unit that discharges and collects paper P sent from the image forming apparatus 100 without performing bookbinding, and can collect a large amount of paper.

  The paper discharge unit 302 is a paper discharge unit that discharges and collects paper P sent from the image forming apparatus 100 without performing bookbinding processing, and can collect a small amount of paper P.

  A paper discharge unit 303 is a paper discharge unit that discharges a booklet that has been bound.

  The paper P is discharged to the paper discharge unit 301 via a conveyance path H301 which is a linear horizontal conveyance path.

  The paper P is discharged to the paper discharge unit 302 via the upward conveyance path H302.

  Reference numeral 310 denotes a carry-in port that receives the paper P discharged from the folding device 200.

  First, the bonding process of the paper P and the cover K1 will be described with reference to FIG.

  In FIG. 7, on the cover sheet K1, the first sheet P1 with the adhesive N applied to the lower end is placed.

  The sheet P1 is bonded to the upper surface of the cover sheet K1 and the folded portion K1A by the adhesive N at the lower surface and the left end thereof. The cover sheet K1 is folded at a right angle at the left end as shown.

  The second and subsequent sheets of paper P2 to Pn are overlapped, the sheets are bonded together with an adhesive N, and the sheets P2 to Pn are bonded to the folded portion K1A of the cover sheet K1.

  The final sheet Pn is coated with an adhesive N on its lower surface and with an adhesive Na on its upper surface.

  By further folding the folded portion K1A of the cover sheet K1 on the final sheet Pn, the cover sheet K1 is bonded by the adhesive Na.

  The process of stacking and bonding the sheets P1 to Pn on the cover sheet K1 and folding the last cover sheet K1 and bonding to the final sheet Pn is performed on the bookbinding processing unit 304 shown in FIG.

  Next, the conveyance and processing of the paper P, the front cover K1, and the back cover K2 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The cover sheet K1 is sent out from the cover sheet storage unit 305, is transported upward along the transport path HZ1, is turned at a right angle, and is transported horizontally along the transport path HX.

  Furthermore, after maintaining the horizontal state and changing the direction to a right angle and transporting the transport path HY1 horizontally, further changing the direction to a right angle, transporting the transport path HZ2 downward, and further changing the direction to a right angle. Transport HY 2 is transported horizontally and placed on bookbinding processing section 304.

  Next, the paper P1 is introduced from the carry-in entrance H310, and is placed on the bookbinding processing unit 304 through the same path as the cover K1, that is, HX → HY1 → HZ2 → HY2.

  In the process in which the paper P1 is transported on the transport path HY1, the adhesive N is applied in a strip shape or a dotted line shape to the left end portion of the paper P1 transported on the transport path HY1 by the glue application head 307. Since the paper P1 is turned upside down in the process of being transported from the transport path HY1 through the transport paths HZ2 and HY2, the layer of the adhesive N is formed on the lower surface of the paper P1 as shown in FIG.

  The second and subsequent sheets P2 to Pn-1 are similarly transported and glued, and placed on the bookbinding processing unit 304.

  Although not shown, on the bookbinding processing unit 304, alignment between the sheets and pressing of the adhesive portion are performed by the alignment unit and the pressing unit.

  The final paper Pn is placed on the bookbinding processing unit 304 through the transporting process and the gluing process described above. In the process in which the final paper Pn is transported through the transporting path HY2, the glue application head 308 causes the top sheet Pn to be placed on the upper left end. Adhesive Na (see FIG. 7) is applied.

  After the final paper Pn is placed, the back cover K2 is transported through the transport path HZ1 → HX → HY1 → HZ2 → HY2, but in the process of transporting the transport path HY1, the glue coating head 307 causes the back cover K2 Adhesive N is applied to the upper left surface.

  The back cover K2 is bonded onto the cover K1 by the adhesive N, and the booklet is completed.

  The created booklet is discharged from the paper discharge unit 303.

  The bookbinding process described above is as shown in FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 6B, the cover sheet K1 is folded at a right angle at the end, and the sheet P1 coated with the adhesive N on the lower surface is placed on the horizontal part of the cover sheet K1.

  After the final paper Pn is placed as shown in FIG. 6 (4), the end of the cover K1 is folded and the adhesive Na is applied to the upper surface of the final paper Pn as shown in FIG. 6 (5). Therefore, the folded portion of the cover sheet K1 is bonded to the upper surface of the final sheet Pn.

A back cover K2 having an adhesive N applied on the lower surface is placed on the folded portion of the cover K1, and bonded as shown in FIG. 6 (7) to complete a booklet.
<Control system of image forming system>
FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a control system of the image forming system shown in FIG.

  The image forming apparatus 100 includes an image forming unit 110 having an image forming unit 110, an intermediate transfer member 170, a secondary transfer unit 105A, a fixing device 124, and a paper discharge roller 125, an image reading unit 130, and a paper feeding device B. A control unit 1 for controlling the entire system, an operation unit 2 as a user interface for receiving various settings such as setting of various processing modes and setting of image forming conditions, a storage unit 10, an image processing unit 11, and a communication unit 13. Have A solid line represents a communication line, and a dotted line represents an image signal.

  The control unit 1 controls the image reading unit 130 and the image forming unit A in the image forming apparatus 100, and further, the center folding unit 210, the conveyance path switching member G, the bookbinding processing unit 304 of the bookbinding apparatus, and the glue coating unit. The cloth heads 307 and 308 are controlled.

  Specifically, the control unit 1 includes an electrical configuration unit of the primary transfer unit 105 and the secondary transfer unit 105A, an electrical configuration unit of the exposure unit 103, that is, an exposure light source, paper feed rollers 122A to 122D, a registration roller 123, and the like. The control unit controls an electrical component such as a roller driving motor of the sheet feeding device B, an electrical component such as a heater of the fixing device 124, a roller driving motor that drives the paper discharge roller 125, and the like.

  The control unit 1 controls an electrical configuration unit of the image reading unit 130, a line image sensor 132 that reads a document image, signal processing that processes image signals and generates digital image data, and the like.

  The storage unit 10 stores the image data read by the image reading unit 130 and the image data received by the communication unit 13.

The image processing means 11 performs image editing such as page editing, image composition, and scaling.
<Control of bookbinding processing>
Next, control of bookbinding processing performed in the image forming system will be described.

  The image forming system forms an image in the image forming apparatus 100 and binds a plurality of sheets of image-formed paper P, or adds a cover sheet K1 and a back cover sheet K2 loaded in the bookbinding apparatus 300 to the sheet P. Bookbinding.

  Referring to bookbinding for creating an A4 size booklet, as shown in FIG. 9A, an A4 size booklet is created by bundling only a plurality of A4 size paper PAs or FIG. 9B. As shown in FIG. 5, the A3 size paper PB is folded and collected one by one, and is bundled.

  When attaching a cover, as shown in FIG. 9C, a booklet is created by wrapping paper P1 with paper K that is longer than the A3 size by the thickness of the booklet.

  Note that NN is a gluing portion.

  In general, the A3 size paper PB is folded halfway as shown in FIG. 9B, rather than the cost of creating an A4 size booklet using only the A4 size paper PA as shown in FIG. The cost of creating an A4 size booklet is lower, and the booklet of FIG. 9B is advantageous in terms of cost.

  On the other hand, a normal image forming apparatus is designed to achieve the highest productivity when image formation is performed by vertical feeding conveyance in which A4 size paper is conveyed with its short side in the conveyance direction.

  Although the A series size has been described as an example, the same relationship applies to other sizes as in the B series. When a booklet having a desired size is formed, only a sheet having the same size as the booklet is bundled. The first mode for creating a booklet and the second mode for creating a booklet by folding and bundling sheets each having a size twice the size of the booklet are in conflict with each other in terms of cost and productivity.

  Accordingly, the first mode for creating a booklet using only A4 size paper is executed when importance is placed on productivity, that is, efficiency, and the booklet is created using A3 size paper when low cost is important. It can be said that the execution of the second mode is an image forming system that meets user needs.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart of control in the image forming system corresponding to such user needs.

  With reference to FIG. 10, control when creating a booklet in the first mode or the second mode when productivity emphasis or cost emphasis is set will be described. FIG. 10 shows an example of creating an A4 size booklet.

  The control means 1 controls the next bookbinding process.

  The operation unit 2 is provided with a size designation unit M1, a cost emphasis setting unit M2, and a productivity emphasis setting unit M3 that perform bookbinding using only a specified size sheet. Either can be set.

  When the cost-oriented setting unit M2 is selected and set in the setting in the operation unit 2, the control unit 1 executes the second mode. When the productivity emphasis setting unit M3 is selected and set, the first mode is executed.

  In the second mode, the conveyance path H202 is selected by the conveyance path switching member G in FIG. 2, the sheet is folded in half, and sent to the bookbinding apparatus 300.

  In the first mode, in FIG. 2, the conveyance path H201 is selected by the conveyance path switching member G, and the paper P is conveyed linearly and sent to the bookbinding apparatus 300.

  In the second mode, the transport path H02 is selected by switching the transport path switching member G and the sheet is transported. In addition to the switching of the transport path, the image processing means 11 performs page editing.

Next, page editing will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 11, a white frame indicates a front page, and a hatched frame indicates a back page.
(1) When an image is formed on A4 size paper and bound,
Image data is transmitted from the storage means 10 to the image processing means 11 in the order of 1 to n as shown in FIG.

  The image processing means 11 rearranges the image data in the order of pages suitable for double-sided image formation, and outputs the image data in the order of 1, 3, 5, 2, 4, 6... As shown in FIG. Then, the image forming unit A forms an image on the paper in the order shown in FIG.

The paper on which the image has been formed is collected and bound in the bookbinding apparatus 300 with one page as the bottom page.
(2) When an image is formed on A3 size paper and bound,
Image data is transmitted from the storage means 10 to the image processing means 11 in the order of 1, 2,... N as shown in FIG.

  In the image processing means 11, as shown in FIG. 11 (c), image composition and page editing are performed, and A3 size 1 page (A4 size 3rd page + A4 size 2page), A3 size 2page (A4 size 1page + A4). Image data is output as follows: size 4 pages), A3 size 3 pages (A4 size 7 pages + A4 size 6 pages),... Create an edited image.

  The image forming apparatus can accommodate three sheets of A4 size paper P and one sheet of A3 size paper P in the refeed unit 26, and the number of sheets that can be circulated is determined.

  When binding using A3 size paper, there may be a margin of two or more pages on the last paper.

  In such a case, it is desirable to form the image of the last page or the image of the last page + the last previous page on an A4 size sheet. As a result, as shown in FIG. 11 (d), it is possible to avoid the formation of unnecessary margins, to avoid wasteful consumption of paper, and to create a booklet with good finished quality.

  In the second mode in which cost is emphasized, it is preferable to execute only with A3 size paper. However, even if A4 size paper is used instead of A3 size paper as the final paper, there is no significant difference in cost. In the case where a margin is generated on the paper that is the last page, it is preferable to use an A4 size paper as the last paper from the viewpoint of improving productivity and finished quality.

  Returning to FIG. 10 again, the control of the bookbinding process will be described.

  When it is determined in STEP 1 that the size designation M1 is set (M1 in STEP 1), it is determined in STEP 2 whether there is a sheet of the designated size. This determination is made based on a paper presence / absence signal from the paper feed tray 120 (see FIG. 2).

  If there is a sheet of the designated size (NO in STEP 2), it is determined whether the designated size is A4 or A3 (STEP 3). If the A4 size is designated, the first mode emphasizing productivity is executed (STEP 4). ), When the A3 size is designated, the second mode with a focus on cost is executed (STEP 7).

  If there is no sheet of the designated size in the determination of STEP2, no sheet is displayed (STEP 5).

  If it is determined in STEP 1 that cost-oriented M2 is set (M2 in STEP 1), the presence / absence of A3-sized paper is determined in STEP 6, and if there is A3-sized paper (NO in STEP 6), cost-oriented. The second mode is executed (STEP 7).

  If it is determined in STEP 6 that there is no A3 size paper, the presence or absence of A4 size paper is determined in STEP 8. If there is A4 size paper in STEP 8 (NO in STEP 8), the first mode emphasizing productivity is executed (STEP 11), and if there is no A4 size paper, no paper is displayed (STEP 9).

  If it is determined in STEP 1 that the emphasis on productivity is set, the presence or absence of A4 size paper is determined in STEP 10, and if there is A4 size paper (NO in STEP 10), the productivity-oriented first in STEP 11 is determined. One mode is executed.

  If it is determined in STEP 10 that there is no A4 size paper, the presence or absence of A3 size paper is determined in STEP 12.

  If it is determined in STEP 12 that there is an A3 size sheet, the second mode emphasizing cost is executed in STEP 13.

  If it is determined in STEP 12 that there is no A3 size paper, no paper is displayed and the process ends.

  The bookbinding program shown in FIG. 10 does not deactivate the apparatus when there is no sheet selected and set by the operator, as in STEP11 and STEP13. Although a mode contrary to the operator's intention is set so as to select the productivity-oriented first mode, it is more efficient to operate the apparatus and execute the bookbinding process than to stop the apparatus because there is no paper. Decline can be prevented.

  In step 2, 3, 6, 8, 10, and 12, the presence / absence of the paper is detected by detecting the remaining amount of the paper, and “not present” when the remaining amount becomes zero, and “present” when the remaining amount is other than zero. However, it is judged as “None” when the number is less than or equal to the predetermined number, and “None” is determined when the remaining amount is low. You may judge. Furthermore, the required number of sheets in the job may be calculated, and “None” may be determined when the remaining amount is less than the required number, and “Yes” may be determined when the remaining number is equal to or greater than the required number.

1 is a diagram illustrating an entire image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an image forming apparatus that constitutes an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is front sectional drawing of a middle folding apparatus. It is front sectional drawing of a bookbinding apparatus. It is a figure which shows the bookbinding process process of a bookbinding apparatus. It is a figure which shows the preparation process of a booklet. It is a figure explaining the adhesion process of a paper and a cover. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control system of the image forming system shown in FIG. 1. It is a figure which shows the booklet created with the A4 size paper and the booklet created with the A3 size paper. 3 is a flowchart of control in the image forming system. It is a figure explaining page editing.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Control means 2 Operation part 100 Image forming apparatus 200 Middle folding apparatus 300 Bookbinding apparatus

Claims (9)

An image forming apparatus having image forming means for forming images on both sides of the paper, a half-folding apparatus having half-folding means for half-folding the paper on which the image is formed, a paper on which a plurality of images are formed, and / or Alternatively, in an image forming system having a bookbinding apparatus that glues a folded sheet after an image is formed and performs bookbinding processing,
Control means for executing a first mode and a second mode for bookbinding ;
A size designating unit for performing the bookbinding process by designating a paper size ;
In the first mode, the control unit forms an image only on a sheet having the same size as the bookbinding size, and performs the folding process by the folding unit on the same size sheet on which the image is formed. In the second mode, an image is formed on a sheet having a size twice as large as the bookbinding size, and the double-sized sheet on which the image has been formed is folded in the middle. After performing the folding process by the means, the bookbinding means glues the booklet ,
The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit executes the first mode or the second mode corresponding to a paper size set by the size specifying unit . It has an operation unit that selects and sets productivity-oriented or cost-oriented,
The control means executes the first mode when the productivity emphasis is set in the operation unit, and executes the second mode when the cost emphasis is set. The image forming system according to claim 1. When the paper size is set by the size specifying unit, the control unit gives priority to the set paper size, prohibits the productivity-oriented setting and the cost-oriented setting, and sets the set paper. The image forming system according to claim 2 , wherein the first mode or the second mode corresponding to the size of the image is executed. A first conveyance path that bypasses the middle folding means; and a second conveyance path that passes through the middle folding means; the first mode is switched to the first conveyance path, and the second mode is the first conveyance path. the image forming system according to any one of claim 1 to 3, characterized in that it has a conveying path switching member for switching the second transport path. The image forming system according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that it comprises an image processing control means for executing a page editing in a page editing and the second mode in the first mode. If the emphasis on productivity is selected when there is insufficient or no paper of the same size as the bookbinding size and there is paper having a size twice the bookbinding size, the control means executes the second mode. the image forming system according to any one of claims 2-5, characterized in that. When there is a sheet of the same size as the bookbinding size and there is insufficient or no paper having a size twice the bookbinding size, the control unit executes the first mode. The image forming system according to any one of claims 2 to 6 , wherein: When the cost emphasis is selected and a margin of two or more pages is formed at the end of the booklet, the control unit forms an image on a paper having the same size as the bookbinding size as the last paper for forming the booklet. and, without the folding process, the image forming system according to any one of claims 2-7 for the last sheet and performing bookbinding processing at the bookbinding unit. The bookbinding unit, an image forming system according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that performing the case binding process for wrapping a plurality of sheets in the cover sheet.

Images